Oh There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Every year we always come back to the same week before Thanksgiving. When this week comes, students start to countdown the days until Thanksgiving, then after that the countdown begins for Christmas Break. I personally figured out when Thanksgiving was and when my Christmas break was back in September. Being in college this year has definitely made me realize how truly excited I am to be going home and spending time with my family.
When it comes to this time of year, you hear everyone starting to talk about their plans for the holiday season. I was home the weekend of November 7th and I was already asking what our family was going to do for Christmas. I know that it would not have changed since last year, but since I am gone to college now I wanted to make sure everything was the same. We always do the same thing each year. Get the Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, decorate the house, bake cookies, have family and friends over for Christmas Eve Dinner, open presents Christmas morning and spend the day with my family. It is a good way to spend the holidays, but are we truly remembering why we are celebrating Christmas? Christmas is not about gifts, or who can put up the biggest decorations and lights outside of their house, or who gets the best presents that morning. Christmas is about celebrating our Saviors Birth.
In today’s world everyone seems to be consumed by their possessions when it comes time for Christmas. Sometimes we can see people try to outdo other for Thanksgiving, but is it really in the spirit of Thanksgiving to see who can prepare the biggest meal? I do not think we should try and outdo each other for the holidays. This time of year is meant to be spent with the people you love, even if all you do is eat a meal together or watch a football game, you are still spending time if the ones you love.
I also think it is important to help out your community during the holidays because there are so many people in today’s world who need help with money and food to spend their Thanksgiving Day or Christmas day with their families. One way we always help out our community is by getting up Thanksgiving morning and participating in a 5k race/walk for the rescue mission downtown. The theme for the event is “Move your feet so others can eat”. This event has only been going on the past few years and each year more and more people are coming out to walk and run to help others out. This year there is no reason why I shouldn’t get up Thanksgiving morning and go walk to help others out. I am going to have the entire week off and I can sleep in then, so we should all be able to give up one morning, even if it is a holiday to go help out the less fortunate especially with today’s economy and the number of people who have lost their jobs this year. This holiday season is going to be really hard on some people and if I can help them by getting out of bed one morning and walk around downtown for 3.2 miles, then I am going to help them.
Now this year is the time we need to really think about others and how it is better to give than receive. Not only for families who have lost their jobs in this economy, but for soldiers who are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and can’t come home for the holidays. It is very hard not only for the soldiers but for their families who are back home waiting for them to return. I know that it is especially hard for the parents and spouses because my neighbor is currently station in Afghanistan and is in the middle of all the fighting which makes it even harder for his parents to get into the holiday spirit when they are concerned with their son’s safety and how we is doing. You know it is not a good situation when the showers consist of one bottle of water and a baby wipe each day. There is not telling how long we are going to have troops overseas fighting, but during the holidays, we need to remember them by sending them packages and cards to let them know we are thinking about them. I know that it means a lot to the soldiers that are serving.
Along with soldiers who are already deployed during the holiday’s you also have to think about families who have family members who are getting ready to deploy right after the holidays end. The holidays could be the last time they spend with their son or daughter who is getting ready to deploy. You never know what is going to happen so you have to be thankful for everything you have and every minute you get to spend with the ones you love. I know that this Christmas and Thanksgiving is going to be difficult for me and my family and friends due to my neighbor deploying in January. He is only a year older than me and it is going to be difficult because we have spent every Christmas and Thanksgiving together since we were born.
During the next few weeks, we need to take time and remember what we are truly thankful for and take time to give back to our community. Just think, if it was your family who lost jobs or had a son or daughter who is getting ready to deploy or is already deployed, you would want people to think about your child and family during the holidays when we are suppose to be happy and spending time with the ones we love. No matter how you celebrate the holiday’s we just need to remember that this may not be the best holiday season a family has experienced and need to be supportive during the difficult movements and the happy ones too.